ORG responds to Amber Rudd’s calls to criminalise viewing of extremist content

Jim Killock, Executive Director of Open Rights Group, said: 

“This is incredibly dangerous. Journalists, anti-terror campaigns and others may need to view extremist content, regularly and frequently.

“People tempted towards extremism may fear discussing what they have read or seen with anyone in authority. Even potential informants may be dissuaded from coming forward because they are already criminalised.”

On encryption, he said:

“Amber Rudd needs to be realistic and clear about what she wants. It is no better saying she wishes to deny criminals the use of encryption than to say she wishes to deny them access to gravity. And if she succeeds in pushing them off major platforms, terrorists may end up being harder to detect.”

For more information, contact: press@openrightsgroup.org